Tackling antisocial behaviour (ASB) and associated crime in Plymouth City and surrounding areas. Working with partners and those in the community in order to achieve sustainable and long-term solutions to local problems.

Issued 21 January 2026

The local Neighbourhood Teams is working alongside local Town Centre Teams to conduct regular patrols and undertake enforcement where appropriate. We are using data to target prolific offenders and enforcing ASB legislation.

We continue to work with Street Population agencies and charities to deter drug related anti-social behaviour in our open spaces and residential blocks. We will also be actively working with council and housing associations to monitor and safeguard residents and dwellings vulnerable to exploitation.

Actioned 21 January 2026

Retail Crime in the Plymouth City Area

Issued 21 January 2026

A combination of increased police response, improved evidence gathering, and enhanced partnerships with businesses. Police attendance for violent incidents, when prolific offenders are detained, or when evidence needs to be secured quickly. Also guides retailers on how to provide evidence, like submitting CCTV footage via a digital system, to help identify and prosecute offenders.

Partnership policing, which facilitates information sharing between businesses and police to identify and target Organised Retail Crime (ORC) gangs
(ORC) gangs.

Retailer support: to encourage retailers to support investigations by providing staff time for evidence gathering and ensuring that witnesses are supported through the criminal justice process.

Actioned 21 January 2026

Drugs.
Plymouth has seen sporadic but concentrated issues surrounding the blatant use of drugs on the streets. Several areas in Plymouth have repeatedly had issues with drug users congregating in areas with low foot traffic, doorways and poorly lit areas. Officers are aware and engaging with drug users, who the majority of are vulnerable or living on the streets. Officers have worked alongside the council and outreach services in order to take a longer term non-enforcement action, which in the long run will produce better more time efficient results as opposed to constantly arresting offenders. Some users/offenders are not engaging well with the diversion and assistance routes offered to them so enforcement action will be taken.

Issued 21 January 2026

Officers will continue to carry out proactive targeted patrols to problem areas at the times of day identified by residents. Officers to better utilise their stop and search powers coupled with solid information and intelligence submitted by residents and victims of Anti-Social Behaviour. Officers will also continue to make referrals to outreach services to those willing to engage. Officers will be issuing CPWs, CPN,s and eventually CBOs to prolific offenders that cause anti-social behaviour through the use of drugs. For residents, please submit information reports through official Met reporting channels as this information will get filtered to us, and we will use this information to proactively target

Actioned 21 January 2026